Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 4y

Nurnberg full-back Enrico Valentini forced in goal for shootout vs. Kaiserslautern

Nurnberg full-back Enrico Valentini was forced to play goalkeeper for his side's 6-5 penalty shootout defeat at Kaiserslautern in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday.

Valentini was not able to save any of the six spot kicks he faced after taking over in goal for starting goalkeeper Patric Klandt, who left the game with an injury in extra time.

"We had situations everyone wishes for with the change of keepers and the shootout. But, of course, for us that's incredibly disappointing," Nurnberg coach Damir Canadi said of losing the match, which finished 2-2 after regulation and extra time.

Canadi made three substitutions in normal time and was able to make an additional substitution after the match went into the extra period.

With favourites Nurnberg pushing late to avoid a shootout, the 36-year-old Klandt injured himself trying to quickly play the ball forward. And with Nurnberg out of substitutions, Canadi sent full-back Valentini between the posts in his place.

However, Valentini was not able to deliver a victory once the game went to penalty kicks, as six Kaiserslautern players placed the ball in the net while their keeper, Lennart Grill, saved Tim Handwerker's penalty to take the team to the round of 16.

^ Back to Top ^